YEAY! AERIN! So glad to see you here! And may I say that this is just a wonderful piece. The characters are perfect. Mrs Carruthers is who i want to be when I grow old - Virginal my ass. Her story about the Casino night was just so good.

And most of all Aerin - thank you, thank you, thank you for writing a character who is honest. I truly believe that most people are and that the glimpse of a jewel isn't enough to corrupt the moral fibre of us all.

I was breathlessly awaiting your presence here Aerin! Searching with forlorned brow at your absence, and then you appeared *cue heavenly choral music*, and I always knew you'd be here all along, and I knew you'd be one of the last.

But to the point, I truly loved this. I was completely going along with the senility and was truly surprised when it turned out she knew what she was doing all along. Beautiful dialogue. My favorite line of the whole story that made me laugh right outloud was “Your mother burns through money like marijuana.”

Humor, compassion, two backstories and a great twist, all in 250 words. Brava!

I love how the POV goes through a subtle shift from a caregiver doing a conscientious job looking out for an old woman who might or might not be checked out in the upstairs to this insightful dowager who doesn't miss a trick.

I also love how she slowly reveals that she fully knows what she is doing, she is not being taken advantage of.

Wow, this is really great, Aerin. I do think there's a very real tinge of senility or dementia here, but it's bang on. My Mom, sadly, has Alzheimer's, and what she actually says lately often has little connection with reality, but at times it is clear even so that she knows what she MEANS to say and what she MEANS to do. And I think your character can even be unfairly angry at her family/daughter, but that doesn't change the real hurt and the real desire that something of her magical youth, of her passion, be carried onward.

Ditto to Dottie (This has a nice ring to it, when you say it out loud. Ditto to Dottie :P)

This is your best CoN entry. I honestly loved it. And I believe you have a good chance for being in the top 5.

I know for sure it'll be one of Aine's fav. Since she has lived many such wonderful stories working in the old age home. I'm pretty sure she hasn't lived any story where she was gifted a hundred thousand worth necklace, but wonderful stories none-the-less.

I can feel the senility of the character. But those moments of clarity are incredible though they may be fleeting. Then, I had the feeling that she was saying 'Audrey' because she wanted to make sure she wasn't present and did inadvertently obtain the necklace. Wily.

Aerin, great use of dialogue. You gotta love Mrs. Caruthers! She sharper than she seemed, for sure. I really liked your mind control story from the last con(that was you wasn't it?). And with this, you'll make my short list again.

Late to the party, but not one BIT surprised to see you as a finalist, Aerin. :)

LOVED this story. It didn't tug at my heart strings. It softly grabbed a good, meaty handful and demanded attention. Your characters were wonderfully drawn in a few subtle strokes--and I am so durn proud of you, yay!